Close
0%
0%

Graphene Synthesis and Applications

Synthesizing Laser Scribed Graphene, then assembling a Solid State Capacitor

Similar projects worth following
Roughly Following El-Kady's method for Graphene Synthesis, with some process improvements. Then, using the LSG and a polymer gelled electrolyte, assembling a solid state capacitor.

Done with some moderately specific equipment, but nothing that can't be found or rigged upin a standard lab or hackerspace. Other workarounds or omissions are possible too.

This was a succesful investigation into graphene synthesis and application.



Materials used include:
Standard Lab equipment (glassware and the like)
PET film
Solid Graphite Oxide
A "lightscribe" enabled CD drive, along with CDs.
Solid polyvinyl alcohol
80% phosphoric acid
Repositionable adhesive
Other various apparatus (Clamps, hot plate, vacuum pump, sonication equipment etc)



Process:
Solid reduced graphite oxide (Hummer's method) was prepared in a solution at 4 mg/mL, then left under sonication overnight. The subsequent single layer dispersion of graphene oxide solution was drop cast onto PET substrate cut to to size for the lightscribe discs. The assembly was vacuum formed, then dessicated. Using repositionable adhesive, the prepared substrate was affixed to a lightscribe compatable disc, and irradiated six times. The presence of synthesized graphene is visually apparent, but also confirmed with a resistance of ~9 kOhms, compared to nonconductive RGO. In reference to El-Kady SEM imagery, the LSG is not single layer, but a network of expanded single layer sheets, which is functionally equivalent.

Next, two small rectangles of LSG were cut from the irradiated disc. A polymer gelled electrolyte was prepared by hydrating PVA powder, then combining at a 10:1 ratio with concentrated phosphoric acid. The resulting gel was cooled, then applied in a thin layer to both sections of LSG. The halves were combined, and allowed to dry, forming a solid state capacitor. Measured Resistance was ~11 kOhms, and capacitance was ~14 microFarads, predictable due to the extremely small active area. The capacitor was then charged to one volt, and a dischage curve was obtained, which agreed with theoretical calculations from the RC constant.

  • 1
    Step 1

    Vacuum Forming

  • 2
    Step 2

    Dessication

  • 3
    Step 3

View all 7 instructions

Enjoy this project?

Share

Discussions

bijtaj wrote 05/06/2015 at 17:37 point

Have you tried on make carbon nanotubes?

  Are you sure? yes | no

Similar Projects

Does this project spark your interest?

Become a member to follow this project and never miss any updates